Backtalk 10/18/2012

Oct. 16, 2012
Designs come in a l l shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are some beautiful and unique ones designed by Mother Nature

Set in stone
Designs come in a l l shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are some beautiful and unique ones designed by Mother Nature.

World’s rarest car
The world’s rarest automobile — a 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 conver t ible concept car — could have “killed” the Corvette, had it been allowed to go into production.

While Chevrolet was coming out with the six-cylinder Corvette with its two-speed “powerglide” transmission and side curtains, Oldsmobile designed the F-88 with a big old V8 and power windows. In 1954, the F-88 was a Motorama Dream Car. Only two or three were ever created.

Chevrolet, GM’s big sales and profit division, campaigned to “kill” the car. Ultimately, GM told Oldsmobile no to building it.

The car was dismantled and spent decades as a collection of parts stuffed into wooden crates. It was then reassembled, and is now believed to be the only one of its kind.

John S. Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communications, Silver Spring, Md., acquired the car at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., for an unbelievable $3,240,000.

The acquisition made automotive history. The car is now the cornerstone of the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum, in its own special room in a rotating display.

© 2012 Penton Media, Inc.

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